Trace-buckle.



UN TED STATES. PATENT OFFICE XELS P. NYSTR'OM, OF KOLAXD,-MINNESOTA.

TR ACE-BUCKLE.

Specification 0! Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

To all wit am it may concern:

Be it known that I, NnLs P; Xrsrnon,

' citizen of the United States, residing at Koland, in the county ofMarshall and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Trace-Buckles, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to harness and comprises-primarily a novel formof trace buckle, adapted for attachment to a hame-tug, back band, andbelly band.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the necessit-yof providing ahole in the hame tug, whereby ordinarily the latter is weakened so thatit frequently breaks at this point, and at the same time provideeffective means for securing the tug to the buckle without liability ofaccidental detachment of the strap parts.

For a full understanding of the invention, including the advantages andoperation thereof, reference is to be had to' the following detaildescription, and to the accompany ing drawings, in which: v V

Figure 1 is a plan view showing a buckle embodying my invention applied;Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the invention withparts of buckle arranged as when in operative engagement with the strapparts; Fig. 3 is a view slmilar to F3. 2, omitting dotted lineillustration of the strap parts, however, and showing the positions ofthe members of the buckle when at their maximum spaced adjustment; Fig.4 is a vertical transverse section; Fig. 5 is a side elevation partlybroken away, showing thelatch device of buckle, and 'Fig. 6 is a detailtransversesection partly broken away bringing out more clearly themovable connection between the buckle mcmbcrs.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout thefollowing description and onthe several views of the drawings.

In the practical embodiment of my invention, I construct my buckle intwo main parts, which for the purposes of this description will betermed relatively movable and stationary members 1 and 2 respectively.The relatively movable member 1 consists of a body provided at itslongitudinal edges with side flanges 3 which are arranged adjacent to,and in the space between, similar side flanges 4 of the relativelystationary member 2. The flanges 4 of the member 2 are provlded withlongitudinally mchned slots 5. Projecting outwardly from one of' theflanges 3 of the member 1 are two lugs or projections 6 which arereceived in adjacent slots 5 of the member 2. An elongated opening 5 inthe member 2 receives a pivot fastening 7 which extends from theintermediate portion of a lever-catch 8 mounted upon the movable member1 of the device. The catch 8 is pivotally secured at one end, as shownat 9 to the member 1, its intermedi ate portion has a sort of pivotaland loose connection at 7 with the member 2, and its lower or inner crxlportion cooperates with ratchet teeth 10, projecting outwardly from theflange 4 adjacent to which the catch is located. The operation andfunction of the )arts 7', 8, and 10 will appear more clearlyiereinafterand it is to be noted that the lower end of the lever catch 8projects sli htly from the adjacent portion of the buckle to provide afinger piece l1.-

At one end thereof the member 1 is provided with a loop 12 to receivethe free end of the trace 13, while at the opposite end portion of thebuckle, the relatively stationary so I member 2 thereof projects a shortdistance beyond the member 1 to form an attachment extension 14 wherebythe hame tug 15 is con nected with the member 2 aforesaid. Extendingfrom its opposite sides the member 2 is formed with integral loops 16whcrcbythe back and belly bands of the harness are connected wit-h thebuckle.

The inner adjacent faces of the members 1 and 2 are toothed or serratedlongitudinally as shown at 17 to provide gripping surfaces 1 forengagement wit 1 the strap part 13. The mounting of the parts 1 and 2relative to one another, is such that the member 1 is aila ted for acertain amount'of longitudinal shd ing movement u pon the member 2, byreason of the connections established by the projections 6, andfastening 7. The inclination of the slots 5, however, is such that inits sliding movement the member 1 is caused to move at an angle to suchsliding movement and toward the member 2.

'hen the buckle is in use the free end of the trace 13 )asscs throughthe loop 12 of the member 1, t 1e back and belly bands being connectedwith the loops 16 of the member 2, and the hame-tug secured to theextension 14 of said member 2. In order to effect the relativelongitudinal or clamping movement of the members 1 the lever catch 8 ismoved toward the extension 14 of the buckle. and rides in engagementwith the ratchet 10 projecting from the latter. The members 1 and 2 arethus locked in firm clamping engagement with the trace 13 receivedtherebetween, and since the trace passes through 5 the loop 12, it willbe seen that the tension or strain thereon presses the member 1 towardthe member 2 and increases the gripping en- 'agement of the buckle withthe trace, the atter of course being suitably adusted in the o cration.henever it is desired to release tl i e strap part clamped between themembers of the buckle it is only necessary to manipulate the catch 8disengaging the same from the ratchet teeth 10 and thereby unlocking, soto speak, the members 1 and 2 and ermitting free relative movementthereof ongitudinally and away from one another.

The various advantages of the invention will be recognized uponreference to the foregoing description of the construction and operationthereof.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is:

1. A buckle comprising relatively movable and stationary members, meansconnecting said members together and ada ted to effect cooperativeclamping action tJOl'GOf when moved, and means for automatically lockingthe members in clamping posit-ion after operation thereof.

2. A buckle comprising complemental members, connecting means betweenthe members for causing clamping cooperation thereof when actuated, apivoted catch for :3 operating the members; and locking means engagingthe catch for holding said members in clamping osition after operationthereof.

3. In com ination with a strap part, a buckle comprising complementa-lmembers,

connections between the members permit tin longitudinal relativemovement thereof,

and for causing clampin movement of the same when forced toward oneanother to engage the stra part, and a catch connected with one of t 1emembers and engaging the other of the members to lock the parts inclamped position when operated.

4. A buckle comprising relatively movable and stationary members, thestationary member being provided with longitudinal inclined slots,projections extending from the movable member in the slots of thestationary member whereby said members are with the movable member, andpivotal connection between the middle portion of said catch and thestationary member, and

ratchet teeth carried by the stationary memher for locking cooperationwith the opposite end of the lever catch in the manner specified.

5. buckle comprising relatively movable gripping or clamping members,connecting means therebetween, a strap engaged by said members, andlocking means for causing clamping action of the clamping members andholding the same in clamping position.

In testimony whereof I alhx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELS P. XYSTROM VVit-nesses: 1

OLE CARBOL, T. P. Dcvos.

